Then Came War Read online

  She had a lot of time on he hands, at least in the first week or so after the attacks. Air travel was suspended. No tourists felt like gambling and the sin city was a dead city.

  She hoped it would not be so for too long. She expected things to pick up soon.

  Linda was certain, felt without a shadow of a doubt, that her mother was alive somewhere in the occupied territory.

  Her father, on the other, hand, she felt certain was gone.

  She waited every day for the phone to ring. She also waited every day for the medical blackout to be lifted. Since the first attack there had been no word. Initially the media reported the attacks on the states and named the cities that were hit. Though her mother lived in New York, she was on the outskirts and in the area where they claimed people could have survived the attack.

  The owner of the casino had received word from the head manger that Linda’s mother was in New York. He told her to have faith and offered to help in any way he could stating the standard, ‘if there’s anything I can do.’

  And there was something he could do.

  His brother was Senator Craig of Nevada. Surely a senator would know what was going on.

  Linda called the Senator’s office every day to find out if there was any news of people coming out of New York. Was there any word of refugees making it out?

  Some, she was told, but her mother wasn’t one of them

  Her daily phone calls caused a friendship to form between her and the Senator’s assistant. Because of that, she learned things.

  Linda knew of the ‘push’ before anyone else did. Linda knew that the ground forces were engaging the enemy even before the push.

  And Linda received word before anyone else that the media blackout would be temporarily lifted at 6:00 PM Eastern Time.

  One reporter was given information, created the broadcast and the clip would be edited for viewing before it was released.

  Linda was given the access code to that clip and she watched it before America did.

  The country was finally told that as many as 20 million Americans had lost their lives instantly in the original hits. Those hits included oxygen bombs and nuclear weapons as well as biological and chemical weapons.

  Enemy forces were now taking some prisoners and using them as hostages. Before that, they were just killing the civilians, but after the push, they realized the importance of them.

  The demand for President Williams to step down was denied.

  A lone survivor escaping the occupied territory was able to provide the pentagon with information that allowed American forces to initiate a massive strike on the enemy’s main Base of Operations. This strike sent them scurrying and the ‘push’ had begun.

  The largest ground and air battle in history began ….and it began on America’s own soil.

  400,000 American and Allied troops along with fifteen thousand airplanes hit the enemy hard.

  The initial the strike by the invaders had brought America to her knees and they seized the opportunity to take the northeastern part of the country. The enemy forces occupied and controlled territory from Portland, Maine to Delaware and as far to the east as Reading, Pennsylvania and Bingham, New York.

  But seven days after the initial strike, the occupied territory was limited to Massachusetts, Connecticut and parts of New Jersey.

  Like a pimple, the enemy was being squeezed.

  The facts and statistics reported by the newscaster were bad. However, the worst part was the statement read at the end in which Americans were told, “When, not if, America reclaims her land, Pentagon officials are telling Americans to brace themselves. The war is far from over.”

  It was going to get worse.

  What could be worse than an invasion of America?

  Linda realized it was the start of the next World War.

  And this one, she feared, wasn’t going to end with parades in the streets.

  This new World War would not end until people finally said, “Enough is enough. Enough people have died.”

  Many already had died.

  Many more would.

  Linda prayed every single day that her mother wasn’t one of those who lost her life in a war that would never have a happy ending.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  To say she was worried about her husband was an understatement. But Lana was proud of him. Ben had not only stayed behind, but had been helping out. Now he had chosen to go with the group to search for the fallen plane.

  He claimed the inability to leave was the only reason for his actions, but she felt it was more than that. She felt deep inside that he had remained there for her and for the cause.

  She took the watch position on the hardware store roof and waited. She could see the smoke from the aircraft in the distance. It couldn’t have been more than a mile or so away.

  Her main focus had been on the smoke until she looked up at the sky beyond the wreckage.

  Lowering the binoculars, she lifted the radio. “This is Scout 3.”

  “Got you, Scout 3.”

  “Northwest, airborne, attack dogs.”

  “Same direction as our people?”

  “Roger. Keep it secure in case the dogs roll in.”

  Then Lana lowered the radio and again peered through the binoculars, hoping that Ben and Rick would get to the downed plane before the enemy.

  ***

  Ben knew it was coming. He could see them in the sky, like vouchers looking for food.

  He could also see the plane wreckage in the field. The smoke was the telltale sign for them as well as a calling card for the Ranuelans.

  Rick saw the parachute in the high weeds about two hundred feet from the wreckage. He pointed it out to Ben.

  “The pilot can’t be far,” Ben said. “He’s got to be in those weeds somewhere.”

  Rick must have felt or seen it coming because he suddenly made a strong turn of the wheel and veered off the road just as bullets ripped by them. He drove over the embankment and struggled to stop the truck before it hit anything.

  He had both feet on the brakes and fought the steering wheel as they careened wildly down the embankment. But despite his efforts, the bed of the truck slammed into a tree.

  “You okay?” Rick asked.

  Ben nodded and opened the truck door. He assessed the damage to the truck. It was still drivable, but just getting out of there would be tight. They’d worry about that later. First they had to get to the pilot.

  Both men hurried toward the road in a low crawl. They had to cross the two lane highway in order to get to the field.

  The sky briefly looked clear; the planes were probably making another circle. Using the opportunity of the clear window, both Ben and Rick charged across the road and into the field.

  “We’re Americans!” Ben called loudly. “We saw you go down! Are you hurt?”

  Nothing.

  The weeds and foliage came to their chest, keeping them somewhat hidden.

  “I radioed for help!” a male voice called. “I’m injured. Stay down.”

  Rick pointed to the left. He had locked in on the voice. Together they began a crouching run in that direction.

  Ben could see him not far away, and then he heard the jet engines.

  The sound of rapid fire rang out, ripping through the fields. In an open and vulnerable position, Ben did the only thing he could do. He dropped down and covered his head.

  The bullets missed him by inches and he turned to check on Rick.

  Rick exhaled with a relieved whistle and said, “That was close.”

  The momentary break had allowed them the opportunity to get into the field it was just that, only momentary.

  Jets now flew overhead. They fired not only down but at each other and as Ben and Rick reached to the pilot, they heard the sounds of trucks.

  “Are you hurt?” Ben asked.

  “My leg is broken,” the pilot answered. “The trucks, are they ours?”

  Ben looked up. He could see the two Hu
mvees approaching, moving at a rapid speed. “Yeah.”

  “They’ll get here,” the pilot said as he breathed heavily, his eyes peering up. “Our guys are giving air support, but I don’t know for how long. We’ll get you out of here, too. What are you guys doing so close to the front lines?”

  Rick answered, “We’re hunkered and stuck in a small town about two miles from here.”

  Sheer horror spread over the pilot’s face. “Agabarn?”

  Ben saw the look. ‘Yes, why?”

  “How … how many people are there?”

  “Hundreds,” Rick answered.

  Immediately the pilot picked up his radio. Gunfire surrounded them as the trucks grew closer. . Before the pilot made the radio call, he said, “Agabarn is the cutoff point. There are enemy forces coming across the Connecticut border as we speak. Our goal is to wipe them out in Agabarn.”

  Ben closed his eyes and his stomach sunk.

  Rick started to get up. “I gotta go warn our people.”

  The pilot reached out for him. “I’m radioing now. We’re close to Agabarn than you are right now. We’ll get them out.”

  A bang and explosion directly overhead caused Ben to jump. He looked up to see an enemy plane spin out of control and burst into flames. “My God, I didn’t even think the Iranians had an air force, let alone one that good.”

  “Those planes aren’t Iranian …” the pilot said through painful breaths. “They’re Russian.”

  ***

  The shrill cries of child birth pain were replaced with the tender wail of the newborn infant. The entire bunker cheered over the hope for new life, but it was short lived.

  Foster was in the eating area with Judith and several others when Manny appeared in the doorway, waving his hand and motioning Foster to come forward.

  “Manny is calling for me,” he told Judith.

  “I hope everything is okay.”

  “We’ll see.” Foster stood and walked over to Manny. “What’s up?”

  “You can say no, if you want,” Manny said. “But Tina, the young woman who has just given birth, is not in good shape.”

  “What’s wrong?”

  “She has begun hemorrhaging. She is in need of a medication that we don’t have here.”

  Foster realized what was being asked of him. “You want me to go find it?”

  Manny nodded. “I’ll go with you. But you are my fastest man, you know where the clinic is and you can get in and out very quickly.”

  From across the room, Judith yelled, “No.”

  Foster turned.

  “I can hear what you are asking of the boy. You can’t possibly want to put him in danger.” Feeling her way using the tables, Judith walked toward them. “Please, do not ask him, He’ll say yes.”

  Manny exhaled. “The young woman is dying. The clinic is not far.”

  “There is a war raging above us.” Judith was firm. “A minute hasn’t passed without the sound of a gunshot or explosion. It’s right above us.”

  Manny nodded. “I know. But I already sneaked up to the top to see. We can sneak out, stay hidden, move fast. We don’t have time to waste.”

  Judith reached out and her hand found Foster. “Jimmy, no.”

  Foster looked at Manny and then faced Judith. “I helped you and others, what would you want me to do if that was your daughter in there?”

  Judith lowered her head. “But, Jimmy, I am so scared for you. Do you hear that?”

  “I do. And I am so sure, Jude, that I can go and get what is needed; I can get out and back here in a flash.”

  “So you’ll go?” Manny asked.

  Foster replied, “Yes.”

  “Excellent. I thank you and her mother thanks you as well. I’ll be back. I must let the doctor know we are going.”

  After Manny left, Foster faced Judith again. “Did you hear what he said? Her mother.”

  Judith nodded.

  “Judith, please, I need your support.”

  “I don’t know what I’ll do, Jimmy, if something happens to you. You promised me you would go to Vegas. You promised me you would let me take care of you.”

  “And I’ll keep that promise. And I also promise, after this one thing, I won’t take any more chances. Okay?”

  Judith sobbed a single sob.

  “Jude?”

  “Please, please, please be careful.” She reached out for Foster. Gripping his shirt, she brought him to her. “I will be praying for you the whole time.”

  “Thank you.”

  Holding on to Foster, Judith’s body tensed and she jumped when a loud explosion rocked the bunker. “Please be safe.”

  “I will,” Foster said. You aren’t getting rid of me that easy. I’ll be back, Jude.” He pressed his lips to her cheek and whispered, “There is nothing more in this world that I want than to have you make me stay in my room and study and give me a hard time about the girls I date.”

  Emotionally, though her tears, Judith chuckled. “Hurry up and get yourself back here.”

  “With everything I am,” Foster said as he clenched her tightly to him, his eyes focused on the ceiling at the sounds of war, “I promise to do my best.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  Ben felt as if he were living a video game. The pilot had been loaded in one Humvee behind them. As the Humvee carrying Ben and Rick swerved to avoid the gunfire and grenades, and the Sergeant filled Ben and Rick in on a lot of things.

  They had chosen Agabarn as an ambush or cut off point because air searches and satellites had never shown any movement on the streets of the town.

  All their evasive running, all their efforts to stay hidden to keep from being spotted by the enemy had saved them initially, but it ended up being detrimental. Residents who remained in other towns had been airlifted days before. Agabarn, it had been assumed, was deserted.

  But the Sergeant let Ben know they weren’t throwing Agabarn under the bus. They just weren’t sure how they could get everyone out in time. Two trucks and air support would be arriving there in minutes.

  Ben and Rick were offered the chance to leave, to get to safety, but both men opted to go back and help.

  “Are you guys sure the enemy is going to head there for you to ambush and cut off?” Ben asked.

  “Positive,” the sergeant replied.

  “How can you be so sure, I mean …” Ben shrugged. “It’s a small town located off the main roads.” He saw the Sergeant look at him and it hit him. “You guys set it up.”

  “We fed them false information that we were setting up headquarters there and that there were civilians.”

  Ben closed his eyes. “What are the town’s chances?”

  “We expect them to storm in, not air drop troops. We have Intel that is leading us to believe that is their plan. We planned on waiting on the ground and in air. But that has changed now.”

  “You didn’t answer the question. What are the town’s chances?” Ben reiterated.

  “If we don’t get there before them …” the Sergeant said. “Not good.”

  ***

  People scurried.

  At first, George informed everyone to hang tight. He thought it could be a trick when they heard a man with a bull horn announce, “This is the United States Marine Corp and we are evacuating the town. STAT. Trucks are waiting and helicopters are arriving for the elderly, sick and young.”

  “Hold tight,” George radioed his roof watchers to ask what they could see.

  Lana answered. “I see trucks, quite a few of them,” she replied. “Yes, they are American.”

  When George heard that, he escorted the people who waited in the basement of the school to the steps outside. He encouraged order, but so many just flew to the staircase that it made it impossible to keep the exodus totally panic free.

  “What is happening, Harry?” Tyler asked.

  “Well, sounds like the military is here to get us out.”

  “Why?” Tyler asked, as he and Harry walked slowly through the cram
ped stairwell.

  “My best guess is something might be going to happen, or maybe they are just being cautious. Either way, they’re getting us out of this town and taking us somewhere else.”

  “Oh, no.” Tyler said with panic in his voice.

  “Oh, no what?”

  “I didn’t think when we came to the basement we would be moved out by the military.”

  Harry was lost as to why Tyler was so upset. “Okay, what’s wrong? Are you scared?”

  “A little, but that’s not it.”

  “What is it?”

  Tyler looked up at Harry and then looked toward the staircase filled with people. “Don’t leave without me.”

  “What? What are you …” Before Harry could ask anymore, Tyler had released his hand and slipped his body with ease through the hoards of people. “Tyler!”

  “I forget the box!” Tyler yelled, his voice growing fainter as he moved farther way. “I’ll be back. I have to get the box!”

  “Damn it.” Harry yelled. “Tyler. Stay put!”

  “I’ll be back.”

  “Son of a bitch.” Harry had to follow him. He had to. While he was confident that the military was right above and they would get him, he couldn’t take that chance. He tried to squeeze through the stairwell, but he wasn’t as small or nimble as Tyler. The best he could do was keep repeating ‘excuse me’ and force himself through the people and up the steps.

  ***

  It had been the first time in a long time that Foster had been above in the sunlight and it burned his eyes. He took the sunglasses offered to him by Manny as they reached the top level of the parking garage that would lead them out to the street.

  It sounded like every war movie he had watched and any newscast of war.

  Gun shots, both rapid and single, rang out. Explosions blasted.

  It was obvious the battle out there was a major one.

  “If you want to change your mind, now is the time to do it,” Manny told Foster.

  “No. No. I’m good. I’m good.” Foster nodded, taking a breath. “It’s three blocks down and across the main road. We can do this.”